Unravel the Mysteries, Dive into History: Discover the Enigmatic Depths of Derinkuyu Underground City!

Journey into the Heart of Ancient Mysteries - Experience the Hidden Beauty of Derinkuyu Underground City, Where History Comes Alive!

It seems that underground is as mysterious as above ground in Cappadocia! In Cappadocia, you can take a hot air balloon ride to the sky, walk through valleys to interesting natural wonders, and descend to underground cities and make a mysterious journey towards the mystery of history.

In Cappadocia, besides hundreds of interesting fairy chimneys that have risen upright and survived from centuries-long journeys, there are 36 underground cities whose roots go deep like trees. Derinkuyu Underground City is the largest and perhaps the most magnificent of these underground cities!

How far back does the history of Derinkuyu Underground City extend?

Although there is no clear information about its history, it is thought that the underground cities of Cappadocia, which were settled in the Proto-Hittite periods in 3000 BC, were intensively used by the people of the region during the Byzantine period. The marble eagle statue, which is thought to belong to the Roman period and found in one of the closed areas of Derinkuyu Underground City, confirms this idea.

It is known that in the Derinkuyu Underground City, which bears the traces of the Assyrian Colonies, the first Christians lived in the 2nd century, fleeing the pressure and persecution of the Romans, and crossed to the Kayseri region via Mesopotamia, and from there to Cappadocia. While this mysterious world, whose entrances can not be found easily, and which cannot be entered easily even if found, protects the first Christians from the attacks of Roman and Arab raiders, it also makes today's travelers wonder "did they come from other planets and built them" with its mysterious architecture!

Until the middle of the 19th century, there was no settlement even above ground in the Derinkuyu region of Cappadocia. Derinkuyu Underground City (deep well), which was discovered in 1963 by pure coincidence and opened to visitors in 1967, took its name (deep well) from 52 drinking water wells 60 - 70 meters deep in the underground city. As a result of years of cleaning and excavation, only 8 floors of 2.5 square kilometers of a total area of ​​​​4 square kilometers were cleaned and opened to visitors. The depth of the 8 floors opened to visitors is 50 meters. It is thought that if all floors are excavated and cleaned, the depth will reach 85 - 90 meters and the total number of floors will reach 13. It is known that about 50 thousand people live in this mysterious city for a long time without ever going out in these depths underground.

In order to visit the 8 floors of Derinkuyu Underground City, which are open to visitors, it is possible to go down to 50 meters underground, sometimes by passing through narrow tunnels. Those who are afraid of narrow and closed spaces may have difficulty in this, but it should not be forgotten that one of the most mysterious underground cities in the world will be visited and discovered.

Floors of Derinkuyu Underground City

Exploring this mysterious underground city of Cappadocia begins by entering through a narrow passage. As in Kaymaklı Underground City, there is the first floor of the city about 5 meters below the entrance in the well-hidden corridor structure.

This floor with barn, kitchen, winery and living rooms forms the top floor of this mysterious underground city. As you begin to descend, you will begin to search for answers to your questions, such as how the tuff-specific land structure of Cappadocia was carved so expertly in those days when engineering was not yet available, and how a magnificent ventilation could be made uninterrupted from the top to the bottom with ventilation ducts. And with every step down you will be quite surprised.

When you reach the 2nd floor, you will come across a partition used as living rooms, food and supply stores, a kitchen and a barn just like the first floor.

The center of the ventilation gaps, which reach all floors of this exceptional Underground city and ensure perfect air circulation, is located on the 3rd floor. The Missionary School, which makes Derinkuyu different from other underground cities, is also located on this floor. The Missionary School is recognized by its large ceiling structure covered with a barrel vault. In this section, which is the common gathering place of the underground city, there are areas such as a cross-shaped church, confessional and a cemetery. A long tunnel (it is said to be 9 km) whose end can be seen here is said to be a connection tunnel to other underground cities, especially the Kaymaklı Underground City. This tunnel, where 4 people can walk side by side without difficulty, has a 2 meter high ceiling and almost brings to mind today's subways.

When we reach the 4th floor, we encounter a dungeon, as the guards with torches were waiting for in ancient times. This must be the floor where the subject of "Fear, defense and security", which is the basis of the need for underground cities, is the most intimidating, as shelters are located on this floor. Ventilation ducts circling the entire underground city like a net, and water wells, cisterns, and cemeteries are other things encountered on this floor.

And it should be said that the 5th floor is a distribution and administration center that unites the city, or rather the heart of the city. The tunnel coming from the 3rd floor ends with the landing and the ventilation shaft, and just after the ventilation shaft, another tunnel starts down to the 7th floor, and this tunnel forms the 6th floor. There are 5 small rooms carved on the tunnel. Two of these rooms are thought to be the door security room, and the other three are thought to be the control room that oversees the entrance and exit to the tunnel. And from the 5th floor, the descent to the lower floors becomes a bit more difficult because the narrow tunnels "only one person can pass" start from here.

On the 7th floor is the largest area of ​​Derinkuyu Underground City. In this section, there is a large meeting room, a cemetery, a water well that is not connected to the earth, and a church. The 8th floor is the last floor open to visitors. Here is a small room with a ventilation shaft.

Derinkuyu Underground City, in its history dating back to 3000 BC, gives the impression of a center where production and socialization are followed seriously, not just like a temporary settlement with a living and defense area. So much so that the human-sized cylindrical stones called Tiğraz, located at the entrance gate of the tunnels, where even 1 person can hardly fit, were designed to protect the city from attackers, like the wire mesh of today's country borders. These stone cylinders were closed at the time of attack. And what is more interesting; The oldest known mental hospital is thought to be in this underground city. Lighting in this very big and dark underground city was provided by putting linseed oil in small cavities and making a torch.

The question arises: how does one manage to breathe deeply in such a profound setting?

Fortunately, the underground city has over 50 ventilation shafts strategically placed to ensure proper air circulation. Additionally, ingenious underground rivers were meticulously designed to cater to the water needs of every floor. Maintaining a constant temperature of 13 degrees Celsius, this underground haven not only fosters a comfortable environment but also enables the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables. Isn't it truly remarkable?

What is the Derinkuyu Underground City Entrance Fee?

Derinkuyu Underground City entrance fee is 60 TL per person. If you have a Müzekart, you can visit 2 times in a year, and if you have Müzekart+, you can visit unlimited. (Prices may differ due to inflation)

Visiting hours:
April - October 08:00 – 19:00
November - March 08:00 – 17:00

Museums and ruins are closed until 13:00 on the first day of religious holidays.

Where is Derinkuyu Underground City, How to Go?

Derinkuyu Underground City is located in the borders of Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir, which was called Melogobia in ancient times. Derinkuyu district can be reached via Nevşehir and Niğde highway. The distance between Nevşehir and Derinkuyu is 30 km, and the distance between Niğde and Derinkuyu is 50 km. From Göreme Open Air Museum, Derinkuyu Underground City can be reached via Göreme – Uçhisar – Çardak – and Kaymaklı.

The best recommended way to visit Derinkuyu underground city is to join the Green Tour, that is, the daily tour with Ihlara Valley in the program (not every green tour program may include Derinkuyu underground city). On this tour, you can have a wonderful nature walk in the famous Ihlara Valley and see this very important underground city of Cappadocia. There are many advantages of participating in daily tours in the Cappadocia region to discover Cappadocia. By joining the daily tour, you can get detailed information accompanied by a professional tour guide, and you can see museums, valleys and underground cities at different distances throughout the day. You can see the daily sightseeing tours and activities in Cappadocia by clicking here. You can also book online from the web page.

Derinkuyu Underground City Story

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Derinkuyu Underground City, which has a very old history but a new discovery (1963), is full of unsolved mysteries like the Egyptian Pyramids. When the surprising depth, the size that makes you wonder where the vertical and horizontal borders end, and also the curiosities such as "how architectural and engineering calculations were made in those very ancient times", serious question marks arise. How the perfect ventilation system that provides complete oxygen even to the lowest floor was built, how the tunnels were connected with each other, how the tuffy terrain, though soft, was carved without machinery and tools at that time are great mysteries.

This underground city, which has the capacity to accommodate approximately 50 thousand people for a long time, is considered by today's engineers as an extraordinary structure, every detail of which has been planned with perfect mathematical calculations. According to research, although it is thought that the first Christians lived here, there is no clear information about whether Christians built it.

Erich Von Daniken's opinion about Derinkuyu underground city:

Serious unsolved mysteries about Derinkuyu Underground City arouse a lot of curiosity around the world. Swiss Researcher and writer Erich Von Daniken, known for his book 'Chariots of the Gods', came to the region in 1982 to investigate this mystery. Daniken conducted research in the underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu for a while, and as a result, he put forward interesting theses. According to Daniken, this underground city, which was built for protection and defense from attacks, was actually built against airborne attacks and was used to protect against the attacks of aliens who invaded the world at that time.

The airborne alien attacks thesis put forward by a serious scientist like Daniken is interestingly similar to the story of angels coming from the air told by Derinkuyu villagers who never knew this scientist.

A mysterious story that has been passed down from generation to generation in Cappadocia and is still talked about by the local people:

According to a Derinkuyu Underground City story, which was spread by Derinkuyu Villagers from grandfather to grandchild, from generation to generation, angels lived in the Derinkuyu region in ancient times. Angels came flying from the sky and established a country there. After a while, evil demons and cruel spirits, who came flying from the sky like them, began to attack this beautiful country founded by angels. The chaos war of the jinn and fairies ended when the angels built this underground city with their magic and escaped from evil and took shelter here. According to the villagers, some nights, angels would come to Derinkuyu as beams of light and continue to live in this mysterious underground city without being seen by anyone.

Derinkuyu Underground City is a remarkable site, hidden beneath the surface, where natural light is never glimpsed. Constructed gradually, layer upon layer, this remarkable architectural marvel might require maneuvering through tight spaces. Considering this aspect, it is sincerely advised that individuals who experience symptoms of claustrophobia refrain from venturing into this prodigious realm.

Although it is not known to what extent the rumors and stories about Derinkuyu Underground City are true, the only known fact is that there are many more unknown and waiting to be discovered roads, many cities and many mysterious worlds under Cappadocia. Will mankind be capable of knowing those mysteries?